Manawatu Rant n Rave

**chanceyy** · 3rd November 2007, 18:05

Originally Posted by dogsnbikes

yeah would of look good going to gisborne on norman the honda and there would of been some new rules too #1 no passing the honda #2 dont pass the honda

gawd now that would have been a sight to see for sure

**dogsnbikes** · 3rd November 2007, 18:08

Originally Posted by chanceyy

gawd now that would have been a sight to see for sure

and best of all everybody would think its bonez leading the pack with all the smoke trailing behind

**chanceyy** · 3rd November 2007, 18:10

Well I am still gutted bout Betsy and even got to tell mechanic today in person .. so just waiting to see wot may develop over the next week

**chanceyy** · 3rd November 2007, 18:35

hey guys this ride could be a goer on 2nd Dec .. seen the pics & write ups from last yrs one & it was awesome ... so keep it in mind

Calendar event here

**dogsnbikes** · 3rd November 2007, 18:39

Originally Posted by chanceyy

hey guys this ride could be a goer on 2nd Dec .. seen the pics & write ups from last yrs one & it was awesome ... so keep it in mind

have already signed up for it

like hell am I wearing a santa suit

**chanceyy** · 3rd November 2007, 18:41

Originally Posted by dogsnbikes

have already signed up for it

like hell am I wearing a santa suit

I seen that .. but hon you would great as a santa ... for sure, for sure

**yod** · 3rd November 2007, 21:10

Sarge and I got out for a good sojourn today. Met up at Pahiatua this morning and then shot through to Alfredton and then route 52 to Masterton. Encountered a herd of cows who were being a bit difficult as far as letting us past was concerned but we got through eventually. A few others must have had theirs out in the last week or so as there was a fair bit of shit (literally) on the road but no real problems. Paused at Alfredton and saw a brand-spanking red Sprint ST go past

nice, very nice.....
Had a nosey round the Honda dealer in Masterton at their various wares, then split up - Sarge headed south and over the takas and paekak to get to Otaki and the prospect of a new woolley seat, I flagged Castlepoint in favour of doing route 52 all the way to Weber and then on to Dannevirke.

I've been through the southern end of route 52 several times, but only from the Pa Valley Rd intersection. I've done (most of) the northern end once from Pongaroa to Weber with a certain green-man and a certain bearded honda rider on a brutally windy day. I had never done the middle section.

I have now. What a dogs breakfast that road is! Superb. Had been told by the bearded one and others that there are "a few areas where the road has dropped away". A few?

I had to stop and take photos. Full of holes, falling apart and you're not quite sure if you're going to end up where you expect....hehe...it's not that bad really, just needs a bit of a tidy up. It is a great ride tho, really enjoyed it which leads me to the next part of the story.

I got to do a fair chunk of it twice. I stopped at a magnificent section that was a trainwreck as far as road surface goes, (see photos), I got a few snaps, had a short stroll to stretch out a bit, saw an Equine Dentist go past, then decided to carry on - this was about 20km south of Pongaroa at a guess. Off I went, toodle-oodle-oo....road getting better, bike feels good, good rhythm....before long I'm in Pongaroa, didnt bother to stop cos it wasn't that long since the last one so headed straight through and on to Weber, road opening up a bit now, stretching the RF's legs now, come over a rise and there goes that red Sprint ST again!

ahwell...one day....ripping into the road now, got some pace on, some great sweepers and then finally I shoot through the Wimbledon turn off and up the short hill to Weber. Better stop and get a photo or two and stretch the legs again so I pull over.

DOH! back pocket of the pack is still open, camera is gone-burger....

the expletives were flying at lightspeed...I wont go further than that

I had to go back and look, I just had to, I was guessing it had either ended up in the middle of the road where someone would spot it and scoop it up (there was a bit of traffic around), or ended up off the road where no-one (including me) would ever find it...

Back through the turn off all the way back through Pongaroa, going an average pace, scanning the road in all the areas where the road was a bit bumpy, then I'm ripping down a big smooth straight not really looking and as I hit a little bridge I just glanced to the right and there it was, about 6 inches off the road just sitting in a patch of very short grass...

it has taking a wallop on one corner and the door for the battery and memory card is a bit outta whack but it still goes!!

laughed all the way to Dannevirke for a pie and a Wild Bean coffee then cruised home down the main road

nice

**yod** · 3rd November 2007, 21:13

a couple from where i lost and found the camera....I had to see if it still worked!

**manwithav8** · 3rd November 2007, 21:25

Originally Posted by yod

a couple from where i lost and found the camera....I had to see if it still worked!

Cool pics too and damn your lucky with the camera....

**Meanie** · 3rd November 2007, 21:25

Your one lucky sob Yod
What are the odds of you seeing that camera, i hope you brought a lotto ticket tonight

**NZsarge** · 3rd November 2007, 21:32

Originally Posted by yod

a couple from where i lost and found the camera....I had to see if it still worked!

Bummer, glad to see the camera is at least still functional. Yeah enjoyed that scoot through to Masterton. Looked at the clock when we left the Honda shop and thought hmmm...1 o'clock.. best not to waste too much time...

Made it with 15 to spare

Cooked the brakes a bit coming down off the top of the Paekok hill, was just starting too get a softening lever, came back pretty quickly though.
Was'nt too bad of a run over the hills all told and the weather held in there which was mighty nice off it I thought

. Did'nt get the skin today, bloke took a pattern of it and will send it up.
Good ride dude!

**chanceyy** · 3rd November 2007, 21:39

holy crap yod .. blardy good spotting to get it back again mate .. great pics so even better they were not lost foreva ..

**yod** · 3rd November 2007, 22:18

Originally Posted by manwithav8

Cool pics too and damn your lucky with the camera....

Originally Posted by Meanie

Your one lucky sob Yod
What are the odds of you seeing that camera, i hope you brought a lotto ticket tonight

Originally Posted by chanceyy

holy crap yod .. blardy good spotting to get it back again mate .. great pics so even better they were not lost foreva ..

ridiculously lucky when i think about it - according to google maps i backtracked 33km and still found it...unbelievable...

damn happy about it too...i was seriously pissed off with myself for leaving the pocket open

Originally Posted by NZsarge

Bummer, glad to see the camera is at least still functional. Yeah enjoyed that scoot through to Masterton. Looked at the clock when we left the Honda shop and thought hmmm...1 o'clock.. best not to waste too much time...

Made it with 15 to spare

Cooked the brakes a bit coming down off the top of the Paekok hill, was just starting too get a softening lever, came back pretty quickly though.
Was'nt too bad of a run over the hills all told and the weather held in there which was mighty nice off it I thought

. Did'nt get the skin today, bloke took a pattern of it and will send it up.
Good ride dude!

yeah good ride mate...shame you couldnt join me up that way, you might have spotted it falling out and saved me the trouble of going all the way back, but then I wouldnt have such a good story I spose

weather held out much better than I thought it would, I didnt get home til about 5 and it was primo all the way

**NZsarge** · 3rd November 2007, 22:22

Originally Posted by yod

ridiculously lucky when i think about it - according to google maps i backtracked 33km and still found it...unbelievable...

damn happy about it too...i was seriously pissed off with myself for leaving the pocket open

yeah good ride mate...shame you couldnt join me up that way, you might have spotted it falling out and saved me the trouble of going all the way back, but then I wouldnt have such a good story I spose

weather held out much better than I thought it would, I didnt get home til about 5 and it was primo all the way

Shite! I was probably sitting at boot'n'braces in woodville as you cruised by......Good pics btw.......